Motor unit interpulse intervals during high force contractions
Document Type
Presentation
Journal/Book Title/Conference
National Strength and Conditioning Association 2015 National Conference
Publisher
National Strength and Conditioning Association
Location
Orlando, FL
Publication Date
7-11-2015
Abstract
We examined the means, medians, and variability for motor-unit interpulse intervals (IPIs) during voluntary, high force contractions. Eight men (mean age = 22 years) attempted to perform isometric contractions at 90% of their maximal voluntary contraction force while bipolar surface electromyographic (EMG) signals were detected from the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles. Surface EMG signal decomposition was used to determine the recruitment thresholds and IPIs of motor units that demonstrated accuracy levels ≥ 96.0%. Motor units with high recruitment thresholds demonstrated longer mean IPIs, but the coefficients of variation were similar across all recruitment thresholds. Polynomial regression analyses indicated that for both muscles, the relationship between the means and standard deviations of the IPIs was linear. The majority of IPI histograms were positively skewed. Although low-threshold motor units were associated with shorter IPIs, the variability among motor units with differing recruitment thresholds was comparable.
Recommended Citation
Stock, M.S., and Thompson, B.J. Motor unit interpulse intervals during high force contractions. Presented at the National Strength and Conditioning Association national conference, Orlando, FL. July 11th 2015. J Strength Cond Res, 30 (February 2016).
